Baby-walker.



Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

H. H. mourn.

BABY WALKER. (Application filed Feb. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ATENT Fries.

HARRY II. MOUNT, OF \Vl-IITTIER, IOYVA;

BABY-WALKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,797, dated October 31, 1899.

Application filed February 27, 1899. Serial No. 707,028. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. MOUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Whittier,

in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Baby-Walker, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in baby-walkers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of baby-walkers and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device capable of ready adjustment to suit the size of a child, adapted to serve as a table to support playthings, and capable of affording an elastic seat, so that a child may rest when he is tired.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a baby-walker constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the manner of adjustably connecting the legs to the body or top of the device.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a top or body supported by adjustable legs 2 and adapted to serve as a table to hold the playthings of a child, and it is provided with an upwardly-extending marginal flange 3, adapted to prevent playthings or other articles from falling off it. The adjustable legs 2, which are provided with swiveled casters 4, are secured within depending tubes or sockets 5 by clamping-screws 6, passing through threaded openings of the said tubes or sockets and engaging the legs to secure them at any desired adjustment. The shanks 7 of the swiveled casters may be swiveled to the lower ends of the legs by any suitable means; but they are preferably arranged in sockets, as illustrated by dotted lines in the accompanying drawings. The tubes or sockets 5, which form the rigid members of the legs, may be connected with the top or body portion of the device by any suitable means, and by constructing the legs of telescoping members, as shown, the device can be varied in height to suit the size of the child for which it is designed.

The top or body portion 1, which is substantially rectangular, as shown, may be of any desired configuration, and it is preferably provided with a covering 8, of oil-cloth or other suitable material; but the top or tablebody may be finished in any other desired manner. The top or body is also provided with a central circular opening 9 to receive the body of the child, and in order to facilitate the introduction of the child into the device the top or body is provided with a hinged section 10 of substantially semicircular form, with its inner curved edge forming one-half of the wall of the opening 9. The hinge 10 which connects the section 10 with the body, is arranged at the center of the outer edge of the former, and the pintle, which is arranged at the upper face of the top or body, permits the hinged section to swing upward. The ends 11 of the hinged section are beveled, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, and the adjacent edges of the top or body are correspondingly beveled and form a stop to support the section in a horizontal position and relieve the'hinge of strain.

The hinged section is retained in its closed position by a resilient catch 12, consisting of a strip of spring metal secured at one end to the lower face of the top or body adjacent to the hinged edge of the section and having its other end overlapping the same and provided with a bend forming an engaging portion 13, arranged to interlock with a keeper 14 of the section 10. The fastening device prevents any liability of the hinged section being accidentally raised by a child.

The device is provided with a resilient seat adapted to support a child when tired, and it consists of a flexible strip 15, extending across the circular opening and having one end adjustably and detachably connected to the top or body by means of a hook 16 and a series of openings or eyelets 17. The hook, which is mounted on the top or body, is adapted to engage any one of the eyelets of the flexible strip, and the other end of the latter is yieldingly connected with the device by means of.

a coiled spring 18, secured at one end to the lower face of the top or body and provided at its other or inner end with an eye 19, to which the flexible strip is attached. The child is adapted to straddle the flexible strip, which sinks slightly under the weight of the child, but which does not interfere with the movements of the same when walking.

The invention has the following advantages: The device, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is strong and durable and capable of vertical adj ustment to suit the size of the child for which it is designed. The device when a child is placed in the circular opening with his legs straddling the flexible strip is adapted to form a table for holding the playthings of the child, and it will permit the same to move over a floor and teach him how to walk. It is also adapted to form a seat for the child when he is tired, and the flexible strip, which is straddled, is adjustable and is yielding to avoid inconvenience orinjury to the occupant of the device.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

hat is claimed is- A device of the class described comprising a top adapted to form a table and provided with a circular opening, said top having a curved section 10 forming a portion of the wall of the opening and extending beyond the latter and provided with straight end edges abutting against shoulders of the body portion, hinges arranged at the outer edge of the section 10 at the upper face of the top to permit the said section 10 to swing upward, a keeper mounted on the lower face of the section 10, near the outer edge thereof, and a catch secured to the lower face of the top and extending to and engaging the said keeper, whereby the section 10 is locked in its closed position, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY H. MOUNT.

lVitnesses:

FRANK HARRIS, EDW. BINNS. 

